Sufganyot – Hanuka Doughnuts — Part 1

In our everlasting quest for the best, we constantly scour the web to find new recipes. With Chanuka about to start tomorrow evening we felt great sufganyot recipes are in order.

This recipe comes from: kosherfood.about.com:

Photo by: This and That (http://apinnick.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/sufganiyot-donuts-at-hanukkah/)

Hanukkah Doughnuts – Sufganiot (Parve)

Sufganiot are deep-fried jelly doughnuts that are traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Sufganiot are especially popular in Israel. The oil used to fry the doughnuts are reminiscent of the oil that miraculously burned, according to the Hanukkah story, in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.

Ingredients:

• 25 grams (1 ounce) yeast
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. water
• 1 Tbsp. flour
• 3 cups flour
• 50 grams (1/4 cup) margarine, melted
• dash of salt
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 1/4 cups water (room temperature)
• jelly (strawberry is recommended)
• oil for frying (canola is recommended)
• powdered sugar

Preparation:

1. To make the dough: Combine the first four ingredients in a bowl. Mix well, cover, and wait until it rises. In another bowl, mix 3 cups of flour with the melted margarine, salt, sugar and egg yolks. Combine the yeast mixture with the flour mixture. Slowly add water while stirring. When batter is smooth, cover the bowl with a towel and let it sit and rise.
2. To make the doughnuts: After the batter has risen, pour it onto a floured surface and roll it out. Use a glass with a small opening to cut out circles of the dough. Place a drop of jelly in the middle of each circle, and then cover with another circle of dough. Make sure that 2 circles attach well to form a closed ball with jelly in the middle. Cover the doughnuts with a towel and let rise.
3. To fry the doughnuts: Heat oil in a deep pot until very hot. Drop the doughnuts into the oil and fry on both sides until brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

TIP: These sufganiot are only good fresh. After you make the dough, only fry a few at a time. Store the rest of the dough in the refrigerator.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy

CS

NatraZyle

NatraZyle is a new sugar substitute.. With 40% fewer calories than sugar, producing no highs or lows, with all the sweetness of the original and without any aftertaste so prevalent among other sugar substitutes, without any chemicals, you can safely use it in any recipe that calls for sugar.

The Natrazyle brand of Xylitol is made from corn, while others make it from birch. It’s corn origin is the reason it has no aftertaste. The company also has two other products, so far, a ketchup produced with their own corn based Xylitol and a mock honey. All three products are great for diabetics and anyone concerned with their sugar intake.

NatraZyle's Honey substitute, Xylitol and ketchup

SYR and I tried each of the products and here’s what we found.

1. The honey substitute tastes very much like honey, though it’s considerable looser (more watery) in its consistency.
2. The ketchup differs from regular ketchup in the fact that it is made with Natrazyle‘s brand of Xylitol and that instead of vinegar they use apple cider. It tastes a little different than conventional ketchup but it is very good, nevertheless.
3. We used the sugar substitute in a recipe (below) with very delicious results

We tried their Xylitol in a recipe that called for powdered sugar. Since NatraZyle comes only in granulated format we put the Xylitol in a food processor to make it powdery (don’t laugh, it works!!). Then we used it in the same proportion we would have used real sugar (as called for in the recipe).

We adapted a recipe from the Simply Southern – With a Dash of Kosher Soul cookbook.

Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/2 cup powdered Natrazyle‘s Xylitol
• 2 sticks margarine, softened
• 4 eggs
• teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4-6 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cups NatraZyle‘s Xylitol

Directions

1. Cream 2 cups flour, powdered Natrazyle‘s Xylitol and margarine until smooth.
2. Press mixture into bottom of a greased 13x9x2 inch baking dish.
3. Bake at 325 F for 20 minutes. Do not brown
4. Blend eggs, 1/4 cup flour, baking powder, salt, lemon juice and Natrazyle‘s Xylitol.
5. Pour mixture over over crust.
6. Bake at 325 F for 30 minutes.
7. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
8. Immediately cut into squares.

Yields 15 servings

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy! We certainly did.

CS

We Have a Winner!

Since we posted The Contest, So Far…, until this past Thursday at midnight, we received 19 additional photos. Some were quite good, some mediocre. None of these photos were shot by professionals, none spent hours food styling and we certainly didn’t aexpect such, the three top ones are quite good. Before we show you the winning picture and the two runners up, here is one photo that I wish could have been at least a runner up. The colors are beautiful, it is very sharp but the lighting is uneven, distracting and there is no definite overall pattern…

Extreme closeup of Rainbow Salad - Kosher By Design Kids in the Kitchen, page 42

While the specific angle of the picture avoided harsh shadows, it was obviously shot with flash as opposed to available or natural light. As a result there is some glare which greatly detracts from the photo. It could have been a very good shot… It was taken by a teenager in Providence, RI. We truly thank you for your efforts and interest!

The second runner up, took the following:

Braised Turkey - Kosher By Design Lightens Up - page 140 (Photo by: Chani U; Brooklyn, NY)

Sharp with no unseemly shadows and taken with available light; the turkey definitely looks inviting. It could have used some colorful garnishing to make it stand out, but it is a good shot.

The First runner up took what seems like a very busy tablecloth and used it to enhance the look of the actual subject of the photo…

Pastrami Burger - Kosher by Design Teens and 20 Somethings, page 104 (Photo by: Chezky R; Queens, NY)

The tablecloth picks up the colors of the pastrami, directing the eye to the food itself. What could have been a very distracting item on the photo actually gives it a warm tone and makes the pastrami burgers look mouthwatering. The flower like pattern of the pickle slices effectively breaks up the almost monochromatic tones of the rest of the photo as it adds interest. Well done!

And the winner is…

Cauliflower "Popcorn" - from Passover by Design, page 197 and Kosher By design Entertains, page 225 (Photo by: Zivah A; Lakewood, NJ)

This particular recipe, by itself, has no interesting colors, in fact it would be boring. The photographer compensated for this shortcoming by putting it in a red glass bowl, contrasting it against a deep blue multi-tone background, and a tablecloth that complements the colors of the food. Putting the photo at a roguish angle makes it truly interesting. Definitely a winner. Mrs. Zivah A. a copy of Susie Fishbein’s latest cookbook, Kosher By Design: Teens And 20 Somethings, will arrive soon at your doorsteps in Lakewood.

We are very grateful to every single one of the 33 people who submitted, thank you for your interest!!!

CS

Food, Jewelry and the Torah

[An interesting post outlining how food and jewelry interact in the Torah, by a friend and faithful blog reader from Israel. CS]

This week’s Torah portion – Vayeshev – kicks off one of the most exciting stories in the TaNa”CH, the story of Joseph. What many don’t know is that much of it revolves around food and jewelry. The food: Joseph’s first dream, 11 sheaves of wheat bowing to Joseph’s proud bundle. Everything goes south from there. The jewelry: Pharaoh takes off his ring and gives it to Joseph. Everything goes up from there.

But then another food wave comes and brings us down again. The Israelites, living in Goshen in Egypt, are exempt from paying the food tax instituted by Pharaoh at the end of Genesis. They are, after all, Joseph’s family. (Uh oh…) The next Pharaoh avenges this by making the Jews build his grain storage cities by force. Slavery begins.

Jewish history takes another upswing with jewelry, as we literally empty Egypt of every precious metal stone. We are rich beyond our wildest dreams…only to then use it all on a golden calf.

Jewelry takes another turn around when we build the Tabernacle (Mishkan) to Hashem instead, but comes down again at food when complaints stream in about the lack of meat.

The cycle between jewelry and food is indeed an interesting one, with more waves that follow, both up and down, ever repeating. The key is to use them both correctly, in a kosher way and in tune with the Divine purpose for our lives.

Rafi Farber
Senior Marketing Manager, Zoara.com

Thanksgiving Specials

Are you planning a Thanksgiving meal? Why patchke in the kitchen for hours? Here are some restaurants with Thanksgiving Specials!

240 E. 81ST STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10028
TEL: 212.517.2400 — FAX:212.517.2401
www.eighteenrestaurant.com
(Please call to make reservations)

EIGHTEEN THANKSGIVING DINNER MENU

Adults $35.99 per person and kids $29.99 per person. ( we will be serving family style on the table)

APPETIZERS:

Choice of:

ISRAELI SALAD

or

CHICKEN SOUP with Noodles

MAIN COURSE:

*TURKEY with Gravy

STUFFING

SWEET POTATO

MASHED POTATO

CRANBERRY DELIGHT

ASSORTED GRILLED VEGETABLES

*Salmon can be substituted for Turkey

DESSERT:

Choice of

PUMPKIN PIE

or

PECAN PIE

BEVERAGE:

Choice of one

SODA

COFFEE

TEA

–)x0x(–

Photo credit: Great Kosher Restaurants Magazine -2006 Cover-

Abigael’s on Broadway

Tel: 212-575-1407 — Fax: 212-869-0666
Web: www.abigaels.com

Thanksgiving – November 25, 2010

APPETIZER

Butternut Squash Bisque —  7.50
Autumn spices

Smoked Beef Flanken Soup — 8.50
with vegetables, potatoes and herbs

Guacamole — 13.50
avocado with plum tomatoes, red onions and chiles,
with fresh squeezed lime juice and house made corn chips

Award Winning Chili — 14.50
slowly smoked with hickory; blended with onions, tomatoes, spices and beans

Wild Mushroom Polenta — 13.50
slow simmered soft polenta, topped with sautéed wild mushrooms
and fresh herbs, drizzled with white truffle oil

Popcorn Chicken — 14.50
fried golden, tossed with herbs, lemon and cayenne drizzle

SALAD

Caesar Salad — 10.50
the classic dressing with a hint of anchovy and toasted croutons

Abigael’s House Salad — 10.50
Autumn greens tossed with local harvest tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas,
roasted garlic, currants, slivered almonds and a balsamic vinaigrette

Autumn Harvest Salad — 10.50
strawberries, cranberries, wild rice and candied pecans
with Autumn greens and honey-citrus vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Cider Roasted Turkey — 28.50
The American Classic…
apple and sweet fennel sausage stuffing, herbed gravy, onion-sage whipped potatoes
and cranberry-orange relish
~ dark meat served upon request ~

Chicken Dijon — 26.50
a petite ballantine with sausage and sweet pepper stuffing paired
with a pan seared boneless breast in a light sauce of Dijon mustard and white wine

Aged Rib Eye Steak — 36.50
chargrilled and served with steak fries and caramelized onions

Cedar Plank Salmon — 26.50
oven roasted and served with scallion whipped potatoes,
string beans and barbecue vinaigrette

Prime Rib of Beef — 36.50
pepper & rosemary crusted, served with natural pan gravy
and onion-sage whipped potatoes

Additional Children’s, Sushi, Wine and Dessert menus will also be available.
Vegetarian selections will also be offered.
Children’s Menu for 12 years old and younger.
For parties of 8 or more, an 18% service fee will be added to your check.

–)x0x(–

T Fusion Steakhouse
3223 Quentin Road (Corner of East 33rd Street)
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234
718-62-STEAK

Thanksgiving Menu

First Course- Choice of One

• Tuscan Bean and Turkey Soup (8)
• Minestrone Soup (7)
• Roasted Butternut Squash Salad (15)
  Mixed Mescaline Greens, Candied Walnuts, Slivered Red Onions, Apples, Avocado, Butternut Squash, and Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Second Course- Choice of One / 4 Course Menu Option Only

• BBQ Pulled Turkey Sliders (12)
  Served on a Brioche Mini Bun, accompanied by House Fries
• Wild Mushroom and Butternut Squash Risotto (11)
  Mixed Wild Mushroom Medley, Roasted Butternut Squash and Creamy
  Arborio Rice
• Swedish Veal Meatballs (16)
  Served with a Cranberry and Corn Succotash, and a Sweet Tomato Sauce

Third Course- Choice of One

• Sage and Cider Glazed Turkey (28)
  Choice of Dark Meat or White Meat
  Served with Cranberry Chutney, Challah bread Stuffing, and Sautéed Green beans with candied walnuts
• Turkey and Apricot Meatloaf (27)
  Served with Thyme and Honey Roasted Sweet Potato Mash, Cranberry
  Chutney, and Roasted Root Vegetables

Fourth Course- Choice of One

• Warm Apple and Cranberry Crumble (9)
  Served with Parve Vanilla Ice Cream
• Three Tier Chocolate Mouse Cake (8)

(Choice of 3 Course Menu $35.95 Or 4 Course Menu $45.95)

Please note:

• Prix fixe menu cannot be changed.
• Each item can be ordered separately accompanying our regular menu

Turkey Recipes – Part 2

Since yesterday, we brought you Chef Lévana’s Spice-Rub Roasted Turkey, we felt we should continue with another recipe that also calls for a rub. From the Kosher Delight website:

Herbed Turkey With Roasted Garlic Gravy

INGREDIENTS

Garlic-Herb Rub

• 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves
• 12 garlic cloves

Turkey

• 1 whole garlic head
• 1 (15-pound) fresh or frozen turkey, thawed
• Cooking spray

Roasted Garlic Gravy

• 2 (14½-ounce) cans kosher fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Photo credits: http://divascancook.blogspot.com/

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. To prepare garlic-herb rub, place first 5 ingredients in a food processor; process until finely minced. (Note: Make the garlic-herb rub up to one day ahead and rub under the skin of the turkey, then let the turkey chill.)
3. To prepare turkey, remove white papery skin from garlic head ( do not peel or separate the cloves). Wrap garlic head in foil. Set aside.
4. Remove and discard giblets and neck from turkey. Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry. Trim excess fat. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat. Spread garlic-herb rub under loosened skin and rub over breast and drumsticks. Gently press skin to secure. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey.
5. Place turkey on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Insert a meat thermometer into meaty part of a thigh, making sure not to touch bone. Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour. Add garlic head to pan; bake an additional 2 hours or until thermometer registers 180 degrees F. Place Turkey on a platter, reserving pan drippings; let stand 20 minutes. Discard skin.
6. To prepare gravy, place a zip-top plastic bag inside a 4-cup glass measure. Pour pan drippings into bag; let stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top). Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Drain drippings into glass measure, stopping before fat layer reaches opening (you should have about 2/3 cup). Reserve 1 tablespoon fat; discard remaining fat. Add enough broth to drippings to measure 3 cups; reserve remaining broth for another use.
7. Separate roasted garlic cloves; squeeze to extract garlic pulp. Discard skins. Heat reserved fat in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic pulp and flour; cook 30 seconds or until lightly browned, whisking constantly. Gradually add broth mixture, stirring with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Yield: 15 servings (serving size: 6 ounces turkey and about 3 tablespoons gravy).

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

RELATED POSTS

Turkey Recipes – Part 1

Turkey Recipes – Part 1

With Thanksgiving almost upon us, we thought we should feature some outstanding turkey recipes, they are different and absolutely delicious.

We’ll kick off the series with Chef Lévana’s Spice-Rub Roasted Turkey:

Let’s start with her Dry-Spice Rub recipe:

Dry-Spice Rub

[This mixture is guaranteed to lick any commercial concoction you have been buying! I can see you recoil at the sheer size of this recipe, and of course you can divide it, but I don’t think you will: after you taste a dry-spice-rub roast chicken or roast turkey or roast anything, you’ll be glad you have plenty on hand!

I use this magical rub in countless dishes, it never fails me. I even roast turkey and capon with it. Since all ingredients are dry, I never have to worry about having to use it up quickly. I make a large batch, about a year’s supply (just a few months if you use it as gifts to your delighted friends!) and store it just as I do spices, at room temperature, away from heat. Mine has no salt whatsoever, so that you might feel free to use it liberally with kosher meat and poultry, or if you are limiting your sodium intake.. Lévana]

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups dry cilantro flakes
• 2 1/2 cups dry parsley flakes
• 1 1/4 cups paprika
• 1 1/4 cups oregano
• 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
• 2/3 cup ground cumin
• 2/3 cup ground coriander
• 2/3 cup ground pepper
• 1/4 cup ground bay leaf
• 2/3 cup tamarind powder
• 2/3 cup turmeric

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Store in perfectly dry and perfectly clean glass jars.
2. You will need 3 to 4 tablespoons of the mixture for roasting 1 chicken (per pound), 8 servings for salmon or tuna, a three pound London broil, or 3 pounds thickly sliced tofu.
3. Use 1 cup of the mixture to roast a 12 to 14 pound turkey.
4. Store the dry rub with your spices.
5. Makes about 10 cups.

Dry-Spice Rub Roast Turkey

Juicy and flavorful!

Ingredients

• 12-14 lb turkey
• 1 cup dry-spice rub
• 6 cups water
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Directions

1. Rub a 12-14 pound turkey with 1 cup dry spice rub, place in a baking pan breast side down.
2. Add 6 cups water and ½ cup olive oil to the pan.
3. Cover with foil.
4. Bake 21/2 hours.
5. Discard the foil, turn the turkey breast side up and bake 1 hour more, or until juices run clear when pierced with a knife.
6. Let the turkey rest about 15 minutes before slicing.
7. While the turkey rests, transfer the liquids to a sauce pan and reduce to 3-4 cups.
8. Strain the sauce over the sliced turkey.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy! I already had it this past Shabbos, AS WELL AS this past Monday at Levana’s Dinner and a Show Cooking Demo. MMmmmmm, MMMM!!!

CS

It Ain’t Passover, So… Why Am I Eating Macaroons?!?

Lily Bloom’s Kitchen won a 2010 Best New Product award at this year’s Kosherfest. Intrigued that a specialty Passover product should be deemed that good, when it’s not even close to Pessach, I decided to try the company’s confections. When I saw a heretofore unfamiliar hechsher symbol on the boxes…I went over to the CRC booth to inquire about this symbol I was told that Blue Ribbon Kosher‘s Administrator is Rabbi Baruch Meir Clein, from Minneapolis, MN  and that its hechsherim are reliable and fully accepted by the CRC.

Small, but very good

I’ve never been a macaroon fan, and the few times I’ve condescended to have one or two were only on Passover, if… nothing else was available. These were good, however!

Lily Bloom’s Kitchen was founded in Minneapolis in 2009, by Larry Shiller to honor his mother who had just died at the age of 98. Why the macaroons? As the Minneapolis – St. Paul Star Tribune put it this past July 18th:

Of all the chocolate-laden treats Larry Shiller remembers his mother making, her chocolate macaroons were his very favorite.

[…] Shiller rediscovered his mother’s macaroion recipe in a box of recipes he sent to his wife shortly after he moved to Minnesota.

After developing additional flavors and going into production, he now hopes to get national recognition and distribution for his macaroons. He envisions one day opening Lily Bloom’s Kitchen storefronts around the country…

The macaroons retail for $12.95 to $14.95. They come in four assortments, each sold by the dozen:

• White Chocolate and Raspberry Collection
• Premier Assortment (4 All Chocolate, 4 Chocolate/Cherry and 4 Chocolate/Orange)
• Chocolate Spice Assortment (6 All Chocolate and 6 Chocolate/Cinnamon)
• Nutty Assortment (4 Chocolate/Almond, 4 Chocolate/Walnut, 4 Chocolate/Peanut Butter)

I liked their White Chocolate/Raspberry Collection a lot (they paired perfectly with the dessert wine we were sipping!) and can’t wait until these delicacies make their way to the local shelves here in Brooklyn.

CS

Olive Oil Orange Cake

Chef Mark Green of Glatt A La Carte, always wanted to be a hockey player and even got a scholarship to play at Saranac in Upstate new York. Unfortunately he got hurt while playing, with his sports dream over he majored in art and photography.

After graduating from the New York Restaurant School, in 1982, Chef Mark spent the next 7 years as sous-chef at Club Med in Aruba. He did stints as Main Chef for the Divi Divi Beach Hotels in the Netherlands and the Antilles but came back to the US, eventually opening Glatt A La Carte, as Executive Chef, over 10 years ago.

He has graciously given us his recipe for a delicious, easy to make cake:

Portuguese Olive Oil Orange Pound Cake

Delicious... is an understatement!

Yields: 10 to 12 servings

Wet Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups orange juice, preferably freshly squeezed
• 5 eggs

Dry Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• zest of 3 oranges

Glaze

• 1 cup confectioner sugar
• 2 teaspoons of orange juice

Directions

1. Beat eggs lightly in large mixing bowl.
2. Slowly add sugar to the eggs until light colored and thicken into a ribbon consistency.
3. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt.
4. Add orange juice to egg mixture.
5. Mix until fully incorporated.
6. Add olive oil and flower alternating little by little into egg mixture until fully incorporated.
7. Mix until it becomes a nice batter with ribbon consistency.
8. Mix zest into batter.
9. Take a Bund pan and spray it with cooking spray.
10. Pour batter into Bund pan.
11. Bake at 350 F for 1:15 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean.
12. Cool for 30-60 minutes.
13. Combine glaze thoroughly and drop on cake.

I’ve tried Chef Mark’s recipe, both at the restaurant and at home, it’s very good. Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Portuguese Olive Oil Orange Cake

Pardes Restaurant

Pardes Restaurant‘s Chef/Owner, Moshe Wendel, opened this new eatery on October the 24th (497 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11217; Tel: 718.797.3880), barely three weeks ago. Chef Moshe’s culinary talents and passion for food, along with the friendly enthusiasm of his tight-knit staff result in a successful venture. Through the years, he carefully and methodically honed his skills. Starting out as a dishwasher at age 16, he climbed through the ranks through various prestigious establishments such as Philadelphia’s celebrated Django restaurant. Moshe and his wife Shana became ba’alei tshuvah, and rushed back east to cook for Mosaica and Mike’s Bistro. He opened Basil as Executive Chef, stayed there for a short while, and is now fulfilling his own dream of owning a top kosher restaurant.

Small, warm, very welcoming

Moshe had a clear vision for Pardes. Located in an area filled with art galleries, bookstores, fashion shops and assorted eateries featuring every kind of cuisine, Pardes became an extension of the chic, upscale, urban cool mix. My companion (SYR could not make it this time) and I got there at around 3:00pm,  Lunch to Dinner transition time…

I ordered the Home Made Bouquerones [house cured white anchovies], with Red Pepper, Caper Berries, Arugula, Lemon Dressing.

Home Made Bouquerones with Arugula

With a hint of spiciness and ample richness of flavor, the well appointed dish was a perfect intro to the rest of the meal.

My companion chose the Tuna Crudo, with Porcini Popcorn,  Arugula and Corn Coulis. She found it beautiful to look at and extremely flavorful.

Nile Perch, Poached in Hazelnut Garlic Broth, “Risotto” of White Asparagus, Granny Smith Salad was my next choice. Again… the unusual mix of seasonal flavors were refreshing & delightful! My companion opted for the Saffron Linguine, Mojama, Almonds & Chiles. A spicey delectable mix of flavors, nicely presented.

Next we both had their Spicey-Smokey Chicken “Wings”, Red Pepper Saffron Vinaigrette, Tomato salad with Herbs, Preserved Lemon, Green olive and Jalapeno…

Close-up of one of the Spicy-Smoked Chicken "Wings" With red Pepper-Saffron Vinaigrette

Check this out!  A real treat for the taste buds!  We were instructed to place the meat into our mouths and then press the spice filled pipette releasing the wonderful burst of flavours… Pretty outrageous!

For the mains we shared both the Pizza of Beef Tongue Confi, With 24 Hour Roasted Tomato and Fresh Basil….

Pizza Beef Tongue Confi

…and the Short Ribs & Broccoli Rabe Lasagne.  The meat Pizza tasted sinfully delicious; the thin crust and beef tongue confi made the cheese topped pizzas, I’m used to, almost irrelevant. The Short Ribs Lasagne, was unusually tasty but had a rather limp presentation compared to the other dishes we sampled.

For dessert, we had the (“Manna” Bee Pollen Dusted Angel Food, Quince, Honey Ice Cream, Sugared Almonds and Olive Oil Cake, Chocolate Flan, Espresso Flavored Marron Glaces) all quite tasty – even gifted – although presentation was lack-luster. All in all, we were treated to an outstanding meal and each of us gave it two big thumbs up! In a lesser restaurant we might even have praised the minor negatives we encountered here.

Next time I’ll order from their ample beer selection, as well.

I was very gratified to see our favorite Chef, Lévana, shares our overall view after going to Pardes the evening after we did.

CS